Like many Brits you may have been bitten by the camping bug in recent years.
Indeed, it is estimated that 1 in 5 adults have been camping in the UK post-COVID-19.
If you are a keen ‘tenter’ then chances you may well be feeling a strong urge to check your gas stove and test out your air beds right about now.
With the mercury (reluctantly )rising and the evenings stretching out ever longer, the temptation to pack up the car and sleep out under canvas (or polyester) is understandably strong at this time of year.
But, when you also factor in the ‘push’ factor of never-ending election coverage, combined with the promise/threat of inescapable European footy fever, the term ‘escaping to the country’ seems entirely apt.
So where is good?
Well, after checking in with our friends at Pitchup.com, we thought we’d compile a list of some of our region’s most highly-rated campsites.
While some are are large and well-equipped with facilities, others are more basic, offering a far more ‘old-school’ camping vibe.
What they all have in common though is a convenient location – all of the sites on our list are well within an easy one-hour drive of Peterborough.
This is not not a comprehensive list, nor is it a ratings round-up – it is simply a compilation to whet your appetites to the wonderful rustic breaks that are available just a stone’s throw away from Peterborough.
So, whether you’re after a wild camp by the river or a glamping experience with a hot tub; a dog-friendly break or an adults-only weekend away, check out our gallery and see if we can help inspire you to ‘get away from it all’, even if it’s just for a while.
Top tip: always remember to pack the tin opener!
5. Orchard View Caravan and Camping Park
If someone were to say to you: 'Close your eyes and picture a Fenland campsite' then Orchard View would more than likely be the kind of site you'd vision. Set near Gedney Hill on the outskirts of Spalding, this welcoming site has all the peace, quiet and expansive views you could hope for. The huge dog-walking field is a big bonus for canine-loving campers, too. 10 tent pitches. Photo: Pitchup.com
6. Lodge Farm Camping
A great choice fir old-school tenters, this relatively off-grid sits somewhat hidden away in a an absolute gem of a wildflower meadow on the outskirts of Sawtry. Listening to birdsong and spying red kites is a chief past tie here, as is chowing-down on on yummy breakfasts and evening meals from the Butterfly Bloom Mobile Kitchen. Just five camping pitches here. Photo: Pitchup.com
7. The Paddocks
Looking for all the world like a bowling green, this neatly manicured campsite of five serviced grass pitches near Guyhirn is only 15 minutes’ drive from Peterborough. It's dog-friendly, too, although breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act are not accepted. Photo: Pitchup.com
8. Manor Farm
You'll find five camping pitches and even a yurt on this splendid site set on a privately-owned nature reserve near Wisbech St Mary. Pitchup reviewers wax lyrical about the site's wild meadows, cared for grounds and wildlife-friendly credentials. "We saw a fox, lots of birds, rabbits, butterflies, and we heard a cuckoo and tawny owl," raved one happy camper. Photo: Pitchup.com